LAURA ESQUER

If you think a vacation is only successful if you come home with a sand filled suitcase, you have clearly never floated past forty castles in a single afternoon. It has been a few years since I took embarked on a Rhine Getaway from Basel to Amsterdam, but the memories of that cultural "unplug" are still incredibly vivid. There was something about the pace of that river cruise that forced me to slow down. I was just gliding past medieval villages with a glass of local wine in

We often treat vacations like a "nice-to-have" luxury, but honestly, they are a total necessity for keeping your head on straight. Staying glued to a screen in a high-pressure job eventually leads to major brain fog where your creativity just hits a wall. Stepping away gives your nervous system a chance to actually chill out. This prevents that "burnt-to-a-crisp" feeling and helps you stay in the game for the long haul. Last year I was lucky enough to take a 7-day Alaskan cru

To be a well-rounded designer, you have to find that sweet spot where technical skill meets real human connection. It isn't just about mastering the latest software, it’s about being able to take a dense, complex strategy and turn it into something people actually want to look at. Whether you are working in a high-stakes field like aerospace or a smaller creative niche, the goal is to be the kind of collaborator who values the "we" over the "me." It is about ensuring that eve

Balancing feedback is one of the trickiest parts of being a creative and it's something no one really teaches you. Feedback rarely shows up as a clear, well-phrased insight. Usually, it is layered with opinions, deadlines, business pressures or someone’s half-formed idea. Learning to pause, listen and not take it personally is a skill that takes time. When you separate how the feedback feels from what it is actually trying to say, you are already halfway to a better outcome.

Global travel often provides the most profound lessons in design. During a recent exploration of Scandinavia and Northern Europe, I found myself in Tallinn, Estonia. This city is one of the oldest capital cities in Northern Europe. Beyond its winding cobblestone streets and medieval architecture, it is a hub for preserved artisanal craft. In the old town city center, I discovered Labora, a workshop dedicated to traditional paper production and letterpress. As a creative who

I have always been a huge believer that traveling and soaking up different cultures is the best way to spend your time. Puerto Vallarta is easily one of my favorite spots in Mexico because it has this magnetic, welcoming energy that just pulls you in. On my most recent trip, I spent the afternoon at El Malecón, which is basically a beautiful twenty-block walkway right by the ocean. It was one of those perfect December days where the sky is a deep blue and the water looks so c

Visiting St. Petersburg, Russia, offers a profound lesson in the power of physical environments. While I was familiar with the legendary architecture of the Peterhof Palace and the Hermitage Museum, experiencing these spaces in person was a masterclass in immersive design. Specifically, the intricate work found on the ceilings of these historic landmarks serves as a reminder that design should engage an audience from every possible angle. At the Yusupov Palace, the combinati

As creatives, our most valuable tool isn’t software, it’s our perspective. While taking a momentary "reset" at a local coffee spot, I spotted this unintentional "E" etched into the wood of the patio furniture. To most, it’s just wear and tear. To a designer, it’s a study in negative space and organic texture. I’m a firm believer that great design is often about discovery  rather than just creation . When we train ourselves to find the "unintentional type" in our daily environ

In the world of fast-paced tech and high-stakes launches, people often treat "the big idea" like a lightning strike: mysterious and unpredictable. As a senior lead, I have learned that creativity is not an accident. It is a discipline. It is not about waiting for an "immaculate conception" of design. It is about building a framework where ideas have no choice but to show up. Here is how I cultivate that spark within my teams and my own practice: Analog iteration. I am rarely

In an industry that moves at the speed of a digital refresh, there is immense value in returning to the foundational elements of design. For me, that anchor is calligraphy. There is a specific, tactile satisfaction in watching ink move across a page. It is a slow, rhythmic process that requires both precision and a high degree of patience. Calligraphy is more than a personal passion. It is a study in form, weight and intentionality. Unlike digital design, where an undo comman